budget experts already predict some serious challenges that include spending caps signed into law in 2011 that could make the next four years extremely difficult from a governing standpoint. let's talk about it with chris wilson, a republican consultant, former executive director of the texas republican party and the president of new heights communications. kristi, to you first. candidate obama in 2008 promised to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. that hasn't happened. how about by the end of his second? >> well, john, i think what's important to remember is that as president obama is starting his second term, he's doing so in a remarkably strong position with high approval ratings and a great record in his first term. when he started, as we all know, the economy was in the ditch. he was able to successfully get us out of that at the point where last week the u.s. stocks closed at their highest level in five years and was able to pass historic health care legislation. by contrast, republicans have their ratings in the toilet. what that means is that there's probab